Israel Oluyemi
Prominent Nigerian football administrator, Ahmed Gara-Gombe, has expressed support for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress after it passed a vote of confidence in its leadership.
The Extraordinary General Assembly, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, cited progress in national football development as the basis for the endorsement.
Gara-Gombe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Athletics and Other Sports Commission, said, “A vote of confidence is normal in football governance. It is neither new nor unusual.”
He warned against selective criticism of the federation, noting, “Many speaking today were silent when more serious issues affected Nigerian football.”
The congress approved amendments to the NFF statutes and electoral framework and scheduled the elective congress for September 26.
Gara-Gombe emphasized that football reforms require planning and continuity, stating, “No country builds football success in two years”
“It takes structure, patience, and continuity. Reform must start from the top, with proper governance and accountability for public funds.”
He also called for reviews of past football administrations to prevent repeated mistakes, saying, “Without investigating previous tenures, we will keep repeating the same mistakes.”